"Pay up or drive slow cars": Brad Keselowski on why NASCAR Cup Series drivers can't compete in the junior nationwide series anymore

Brad Keselowski and fellow veteran NASCAR drivers have voiced their opinions on the diminishing practice of Buschwhacking. A lesser number of full-time Cup Series drivers have been participating in the Xfinity Series in recent times.

Buschwhacking - the moniker given when Xfinity Series was formerly known as the Busch Series - has remained a hot topic of debate.

The practice of Cup Series drivers racing full-time on Saturdays was a common scene over a decade ago. But over time, NASCAR has put a hard limit (5) on the number of starts a Cup driver can make in the lower series.

A recent online debate initiated by Matt Weaver on X (Formerly Twitter) has drawn the attention of several Cup Series drivers. These include the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keselowski.

The RFK Racing co-owner explained that he would like to run five races every year, but added that no major sponsors would prefer putting the money for an Xfinity ride. He suggested that they would rather invest in Sunday's race, which generally draws more attention.

"Can speak for only myself: I miss it. Would run 5 races, with a good full time team," Brad Keselowski said, replying to Dale Jr.

"Can’t because no major sponsor interest, it takes 5-7m annually to make it work. Any sponsor of that size usually goes on a cup car now days. So the choices are: pay up or drive slow cars."

Brad Keselowski, who previously was a team owner in the Truck Series, knows the finances of the junior category teams. He made his last start in the Xfinity Series back in 2020 and made five starts back in 2018.

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Denny Hamlin agrees with Brad Keselowski as he reckons "Buschwhacking is gone"

Denny Hamlin shared the same opinion as Brad Keselowski as he agreed with the fellow Cup Series team owner. Hamlin added that Xfinity teams now required drivers to bring funding to secure a ride.

"Buschwhacking is gone. Xfinity teams need money from drivers now. They would choose that over a cup driver that could potentially win 10 out of 10 times in 2023.

"If they have no funding, they will throw a cup guy who’s willing to run."

Earlier this season, Team Penske driver Joey Logano also shed light on the poor economics of the junior series. He explained that even veteran drivers had to bring significant money for a single ride.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives his opinion on Buschwhacking

Matt Weaver shared his "love-hate relationship" with the practice of Buschwhacking. He expressed his wish to see more Cup Series drivers race in the Xfinity Series and wants the limit to be increased.

On the contrary, Dale Earnhardt Jr. suggested that raising the limit won't help, as many Cup drivers were hesitant to make multiple starts in the junior series.

“There are plenty of cup drivers not running even a single race. The limits aren’t a factor imo,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote on X."

“I don’t want to speculate why they aren’t choosing to run. But until there are a solid 5-10 cup driver maxing the limit, raising it won’t do much,” he added.

NASCAR fans also have split opinions on the practice which was popular a decade ago.